Born in Germany, 1961
Living in Melbourne’s inner city for 25 years
Painting full time and exhibiting since 2001
Completed Diploma of visual arts at RMIT in 2005
Ralf Kempken has been cutting and spraying multi layered stencils for years. From portraiture, iconic Melbourne cafes and modernist architecture, the stencil is used to spray images in countless variations. The underlying concept has always been that we filter all we see through past experiences and memories. Thus followed the evolution of the stencil which, up until now has been used as the tool to produce the painting, into the artwork itself. We all screen and frame our personal view of the world and with this in mind the stencils have turned into screens. Artwork that can be seen through and create optical illusions. The screens are intended as daily reminders that we have a conscious choice in how to look at the world around us.
All work is hand cut into paper, acetate, canvas or timber. With some outside help they can also be cut into steel. Ralf has been exhibiting continuously since 2001.
SOLO
2017 Jun Into The Distance, Manyung Gallery Malvern
2017 Mar Shadow Theatre, Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2016 Aug On Reflection, South Yarra Art House
2016 July Urban Art, Manyung Gallery, Malvern
2016 May Optique. Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2015 Sept Depends on how you look at it, St. Heliers St. Gallery, Abbotford Convent
2015 May Perspectives, Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2014 June Screening, Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2013 May Stencils to Screens, Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2012 May Unknown, c3 contemporary art space, Abbotsford Convent
2011 May Lines, Sticks & Leaves, St. Heliers Gallery, Abbotsford Convent
2010 May Filter, Ochre gallery, Collingwood
2009 July Now Screening.., famouswhendead gallery, Nth. Melb.
2008 July c3 contemporary art space launch, Abbotsford Convent
2008 July Interface, Powerhouse Arts Centre, Brisbane
2008 Mar Interface, gallery launch, famouswhendead gallery, Melbourne
GROUP
2017 June Flanegan Art Prize, Ballarat
2017 June winner, St. Kevins Art Show
2017 Apr finalist, Wyndham Art Prize
2017 Feb Stencil Art Prize, Adelaide
2016 Sept Stencil Art Prize, Sydney
2015 Oct finalist, Banyule Award for Works on Paper, Ivanhoe
2015 June YKCDT, aMBUSH Gallery, Sydney
2015 May finalist, highly commended, Hazelhurst Works on paper award, Sydney
2013 Oct winner, Australian Stencil art Prize, Sydney
2013 Oct winner - people’s choice award, Banyule Works on paper, Melbourne
2013 Aug finalist, Flanegan Art Prize, Ballarat
2012 Nov winner, Australian stencil art prize, Crissie Cotter Gallery, Sydney
2012 Aug finalist, National Works on Paper Award, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
2012 Jun the art of photographic expression, Gallery One, Gold Coast
2011 Nov finalist, Australian stencil art prize, Cockatoo Island, Sydney
2010 Nov finalist, Australian stencil art prize, Sydney
2010 Jun Paperworks, c3 contemporary art space, Abbotsford
2010 Nov artist residency Scotch College
2009 Mar Australian stencil art prize, Sydney
2008 Oct off the wall finalist – Art Sydney
2008 Aug Macarthur Cook art awards finalist, 45 downstairs gallery, Melbourne
2008 Aug Melbourne stencil festival, featured artist representing Australia & Asia
2008 Apr off the wall finalist – Art Melbourne
2007 Dec Stencil festival, Perth
2007 Dec Urban art agenda, Perth
2007 Oct Stencil festival, Sydney and Brisbane
2007 June Fine cuts, Ballarat art gallery
2007 May Melbourne Stencil Festival
2007 Mar Selected cuts, Fringe festival Adelaide
2006 May Stencil Festival, Melbourne & Sydney
2005 Feb Melbourne stencil festival
